Yeah 97.9 comes in strong. Hopefully a signal for 95.1 and 103.7 will return ASAP.
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Charlotte HD Radio Signals
- Thread starter tylerSC
- Start date
I understand work is taking place as we speak to get the last two CBS FM's IBOC back on. ERI had to rework the combiners that are used to combine the analog transmitter and the digital transmitter into the same transmission line and antenna.
I also hear that CBS plans to continue operating the stations until FCC approval. The deal won't be closed until then. Sometimes companies take over stations they are about to buy using what is called a Local Marketing Agreement. Basically the new owner would lease all of the time on the station until the sale is approved. In this case CBS has decided not to do that. Approval is not expected until the end of the year.
t123
I also hear that CBS plans to continue operating the stations until FCC approval. The deal won't be closed until then. Sometimes companies take over stations they are about to buy using what is called a Local Marketing Agreement. Basically the new owner would lease all of the time on the station until the sale is approved. In this case CBS has decided not to do that. Approval is not expected until the end of the year.
t123
They turned 95.1's HD on last night.
t123
Yeas 95.1 HD is back on as of Friday night. But are they at full power or will they be allowed to increase? I know 107.9 and 99.3 recently increased. What is considered full power for HD Radio stations such as 95.1 which are full power for analog?
Yea 95.1HD is back. Perhaps 103.7HD will be next.
103.7 is now running HD again as of Sunday afternoon.
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Yeas 95.1 HD is back on as of Friday night. But are they at full power or will they be allowed to increase? I know 107.9 and 99.3 recently increased. What is considered full power for HD Radio stations such as 95.1 which are full power for analog?
-14 dBc below full licensed power. So 14 dB below carrier power. If they are 100 KW ERP on FM analog then their ERP on HD will be 4 KW I think. + 80 dBm is 100 KW and + 66 dBm is 3,981 W... I may be wrong on these figures but I think that is how I interpret it. Some stations are allowed to be -10 dBc so for a full 100 KW station that would be 10 KW on IBOC...
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-10-208A1.pdf
-14 dBc below full licensed power. So 14 dB below carrier power. If they are 100 KW ERP on FM analog then their ERP on HD will be 4 KW I think. + 80 dBm is 100 KW and + 66 dBm is 3,981 W... I may be wrong on these figures but I think that is how I interpret it. Some stations are allowed to be -10 dBc so for a full 100 KW station that would be 10 KW on IBOC...
https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-10-208A1.pdf
Well I believe that 107.9-HD is full power, but I am not sure about 95.1-HD. As I get a more reliable lock on 107.9-HD while in the car in Greenville, SC fringe area. But I do believe 107.9 has a separate HD antenna, whereas 95.1 uses a combined antenna for both analog and HD. Unless I am mistaken. And perhaps this explains the difference. But ironically, 95.1 analog is much stronger than 107.9 analog once you pass west of Gaffney, due to the repositioning of WLNKs transmitting antenna about 10 years ago. They used to have a strong omnidirectional analog signal, and I wish they could correct it. But apparently they wanted to optimize a stronger signal for Hickory to the north and Monroe to the east. Although I think this was a bit unnecessary, as their omnidirectional signal was overall better before.
WGTR in Myrtle Beach and WNCT-FM in Greenville, NC could be other reasons.Well I believe that 107.9-HD is full power, but I am not sure about 95.1-HD. As I get a more reliable lock on 107.9-HD while in the car in Greenville, SC fringe area. But I do believe 107.9 has a separate HD antenna, whereas 95.1 uses a combined antenna for both analog and HD. Unless I am mistaken. And perhaps this explains the difference. But ironically, 95.1 analog is much stronger than 107.9 analog once you pass west of Gaffney, due to the repositioning of WLNKs transmitting antenna about 10 years ago. They used to have a strong omnidirectional analog signal, and I wish they could correct it. But apparently they wanted to optimize a stronger signal for Hickory to the north and Monroe to the east. Although I think this was a bit unnecessary, as their omnidirectional signal was overall better before.
When WGTR signed on, perhaps WLNK felt the need to optimize their signal to the east of Charlotte to reduce interference from the Myrtle Beach station. I was told WLNK wanted to boost their signal along Hwy. 74 East towards Rockingham, and perhaps this was part of the reason. But this change sacrificed their clear signal in the Greenville, SC fringe area. But because we are outside the Charlotte DMA, it did not seem to be a concern. But I get both 107.9 analog and HD clear in the house with rabbit ears, it's just in the car where it is problematic.WGTR in Myrtle Beach and WNCT-FM in Greenville, NC could be other reasons.
Driving down I-385 south and I-26 south from the edge of Greenville, SC down to the outskirts of Columbia, 107.9-HD locked in consistently, and the other Charlotte analogs came in strong and clear. 107.9 had the strongest HD signal, but other Charlotte HD channels came in some of the way, including 99.3, 95.1, and 96.1.
Updating this thread, it appears they did some work at the Dallas transmitter site today improving the HD signals for 96.1 and 97.9. I know these are 2 different companies, but the HD signal has significantly stabilized on these 2 stations broadcasting from the WJZY-TV tower. Previously 96.1-HD would no longer lock on since last year, and there was no sign of HD on 97.9 at all. In the western fringe of Greenville, SC. Perhaps they share a contract engineer who made some adjustments to the transmitters, combiners, or power generators. And I don't think it is weather related because there have been issues with 96.1 and 97.9 HD signals in the fringe since last year. And 95.1 remains locked on HD from the same tower.
107.9-WLNK remains a strong HD signal from the nearby WBTV tower. But unfortunately reception is now problematic in the car in Greenville, SC where it was once clear, because of a low power signal on the same frequency. But my rabbit ears antenna gets WLNK strong and clear, both analog and HD. And the FCC maps show the grade B fringe contour extending into Anderson County. So seems like a mistake by the FCC to allow overlapping signals that create mutual interference. And the WLNK signal was previously very good even in the grade B coverage contour, even after they side mounted their transmitting antenna more to the east. But some of these translator permits seem ill advised.
Updating this thread, it appears they did some work at the Dallas transmitter site today improving the HD signals for 96.1 and 97.9. I know these are 2 different companies, but the HD signal has significantly stabilized on these 2 stations broadcasting from the WJZY-TV tower. Previously 96.1-HD would no longer lock on since last year, and there was no sign of HD on 97.9 at all. In the western fringe of Greenville, SC. Perhaps they share a contract engineer who made some adjustments to the transmitters, combiners, or power generators. And I don't think it is weather related because there have been issues with 96.1 and 97.9 HD signals in the fringe since last year. And 95.1 remains locked on HD from the same tower.
Seems like they may have tweaked something, but then again it could have been weather conditions. Because 96.1 HD is dropping out again whereas it used to always lock on clear with the attic antenna. I think the problem may be added low power signals on 95.9 and 96.3. Which is my ongoing complaint. But I still get 95.1 and 107.9 HD signals to lock on, and 96.1 analog is clear.
Seems like they may have tweaked something, but then again it could have been weather conditions. Because 96.1 HD is dropping out again whereas it used to always lock on clear with the attic antenna. I think the problem may be added low power signals on 95.9 and 96.3. Which is my ongoing complaint. But I still get 95.1 and 107.9 HD signals to lock on, and 96.1 analog is clear.
I think WLNK may be the only Charlotte station with a separate dedicated HD Radio transmit antenna. I believe it is an 8-bay Shively antenna, and it has the strongest HD signal from Charlotte in my area of Greenville, SC. Despite being side mounted more towards Charlotte to the east. Their analog antenna is also side mounted east, and has a bit of a null to the west compared to their old antenna, which was more omnidirectional. But you could still get a clear analog signal before the local translator interference became a problem 2 years ago. I think their separate large HD antenna gives them a stronger HD signal than stations with a combo antenna, and I believe they are full HD power. I would be curious if the other HD signals such as 95.1, 96.1, and 103.7 are full power. But 107.9 is the only Charlotte HD that locks in the car in Greenville, SC despite analog interference. I can get 95.1 and 99.3 HD to lock on my home radio, but not always 96.1 or 102.9 due to the aggravating translator interference.
So to summarize, do any Charlotte stations other than WLNK have a separate HD transmit antenna, and are they full power?
WLNK is high level combined using the same ERI combiner that 95.1 and 103.7 use. They did put a new Nautel GV40 on the air a few weeks ago but it is analog only. The HD is being made with a Harris/Gates Air TX of some sort. The antenna is a Shively panel mounted on all three faces of the tower. About as omni as you can get on a tower as wide as Channel 3's.
The only station low level combined in Charlotte I know of is 101.9. They have two antennas on the tower on Crowders Mt.
t123
The only station low level combined in Charlotte I know of is 101.9. They have two antennas on the tower on Crowders Mt.
t123
WLNK's authorization shows they have an eight-bay Shivley 6810R - that's not a panel antenna. The previous antenna was an ERI dual-feed panel antenna, I believe.
WLNK's authorization shows they have an eight-bay Shivley 6810R - that's not a panel antenna. The previous antenna was an ERI dual-feed panel antenna, I believe.
Well...I stand corrected...I knew they had made some modifications at the site but I was not aware that the antenna was replaced.
I am pretty sure the original antenna on that tower was a Shivley Panel. I will confirm when I see the Chief this weekend.
t123
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